…for Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. Malachi 1:3
The Hebrew word used in Malachi 1:3 for “hated” is sane (Strong’s Concordance H8130). It can also mean “unloved” and “shunned’. But in Romans, where Paul quoted Malachi, the Greek word is consistently used as “hate”, having no shades or alternative meanings.
Yet, we know from other usages of the word, that a relative comparison is intended, and therefore the word is used for purposes of emphasis. In other words, when “hate” is used in a comparative sense, the meaning is intended to emphasize that the compared item is all the more to be desired. Here are some examples of how “hate” is used to create a comparison:
No man can love two masters, either he will hate the one and cling to the other… Matthew 6:24 (and Luke 16:13)
Unless you love me and hate your wife… Luke 14:26
We know a relative comparison is intended in the above verses, because of 1 John 3:15, where the verse is clearly not a comparison:
He who hates his brother is a murderer….
Can God even remotely be called a “murderer” because He has “hated” Esau? No. Again, not understanding God’s nature has resulted in a false witness against the Lord by the translation. This is a most grievous accusation, one worthy of the Devil. If God can be equated to a murderer, then He certainly cannot be a fair judge, not to speak of a thrice-holy one. But He alone is holy, and it is precisely for this reason that we know that He does not hate in an absolute sense. Consequently, a better translation is: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have shunned. We should also consider 1 John 2:11.
But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him. 1 John 2:11
Is God in the darkness, and has darkness “blinded His eyes”? The point in all of this is that God does not “hate”. God is love, and His love is perfect. It was His love, not just of those who love Him, not just of those who are claimed to be His “elect”, but of the whole world (including those who do not love Him, and even “hate” Him) that led Him to give His only Son, that whosoever believed into Him would have everlasting life.
The Hebrew word, sane, is used many times in the Old Testament, and is often referred to by preachers in preaching about things God supposedly “hates”. The idea is: you better be afraid of God, because you are doing things He hates. But where do those things come from? Are they not a part of the universe created by God? It is important to note that God hates no part of His creation–no part and no person, and dear reader that most definitely includes you. He has spoken over all of creation: It is good. Nevertheless, some will surely say, “God must hate evil.” Again, where does evil come from? Has not God made all things? You may disagree, and we apologize if we have offended your beliefs, but Isaiah said God has made evil.
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Isaiah 45:7 King James Version
Here is some advice. The next time you hear or read about something God “hates”, plug in the word “shuns” and see if it makes more sense. God has no reason to hate; to Him, hatred is another tool which He has created, like sin, evil, calamity and even death. The purpose of these tools is to draw men to Christ Jesus. And because He is extraordinarily skillful with His tools (not to mention, all-powerful), He will indeed draw all men to the Saviour.
Getting back to Esau, the shunned one, Esau and all those like him are included in the comprehensive plan of God. Esau was a prophetic type, as well as a living and historic individual. He fulfilled a role by his life that was predetermined by Father, before either he or Jacob had been born and had done a single thing good or bad. Read the rest of what Paul said after quoting the Malachi verse above. He strongly refutes any notion that God was in the slightest unfair to Esau.
What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that my Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires. You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? Romans 9:14-21
Please note carefully the reason God has given in these verses as to the actions He has taken with not only Esau, but also later with Pharoah: that my Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth! That name, dear reader, is Yeshua, or Jesus, the Name above every name. The modern Church loves to deride Esau, not to mention Pharoah, but they are unaware that Esau will ultimately be given a place of honor for the part he has played in proclaiming the Name throughout the whole earth. How easily Father is accused of hatred, with no thought of what John said about those who hate, and with no thought of our sovereign Lord’s purpose for every life He has created!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8
Blessed are you, O Lord! Our loving Father, you are a wonderful God! So wise, fair and wonderful in all your dealings with mankind, you have treated us much better than we deserve. The only thing in creation that no one can get too much of is your never-failing love. Fill us, please Father, with your love and may hatred of any kind be banished from our beings as Jesus’ very love exudes from us. Thank you, Father!